Capt. Donald J. Walsh

Capt. Donald J. Walsh, 56, of Acushnet,died April 6.  He was the husband of Jacqueline (O'Bomsawin) Walsh. His body was found under water at Parascondolo Dock in Newport.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in New Bedford and Acushnet most of his life.  He was a communicant of St. Francis  Xavier Church.

Capt. Walsh was co-owner of the fishing vessel Cormorant, which he and his father built in 1969.  He was the skipper of the Angela W. from 1963 to 1969 and was captain and owner of the Jacqueline W. in Newport at the time of his death.

He was a Korean War Navy veteran and member of the American Legion of Acushnet, Post 265, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Acushnet, The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and the New Bedford Fishermen's Union.

In 1984, Capt. Walsh and three crewmen escaped his burning boat off Georges Bank, then clambered back on board to retrieve the distress signal beacon.  The fishermen spent 11 hours on a life raft until the Coast Guard arrived.

Survivors include his widow; three sons, Kevin D. and Brian J., both of Acushnet, and Eric R. of New Bedford; three daughters, Lisa Cory, Maribeth White, and Meghan Walsh, all of Acushnet; two brothers, Thomas P. and Ronald J., both of New Bedford; six sisters, Florence M. Richardson of Falmouth, Josephine A. Wall and Mary R. Jardin, both of New Bedford, Nancy E. Bennett and Patricia A. Crabbe, both of Fairhaven; and Helen M. Monize of New Providence, N.J.; and six grandchildren.

Captain Donald J. Walsh's body was found under water at Parascondolo Dock in Newport, Rhode Island.